Accused killer out on reduced bond; victim's family cries foul
-
Just how much is one life worth? That's a question being asked by loved ones of a 45 year-old Tucson woman, brutally bludgeoned to death in her own home. Video by kgun9.com
video
Reporter: Maggie Vespa
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Just how much is one life worth? That's a question being asked tonight by loved ones of a 45 year-old Tucson woman, brutally bludgeoned to death in her own home.
Now, her accused killer is back on the streets, thanks to a massive reduction in his bond, something legal experts call 'common practice.'
Loved ones of 45 year-old Kimberly Tsonetokoy are prepared for the pain of a trial.
But Bertie Lozano, Tsonetokoy's boss and close friend, says nothing could have prepared them for this.
"$10,000 is peanuts compared to someone's life."
$10,000, down from $500,000.
That's the bond reduction granted to 48 year-old Arnold Granillo by Pima County Judge Javier Chon-Lopez this morning.
Granillo is accused of brutally assaulting and murdering Tsonetokoy, his then live-in girlfriend, while her daughter and granddaughter were in the next room.
It was a relationship, Lozano says, with a violent past.
So how is it, she asks, can a man-- accused of such a horrific crime-- gain so much trust from a judge?
"No one from Victim Witness was present. No one from Homicide Survivors. Where was the Pima County Attorney's office in all of this?" she said.
"In no way is it a measurement of the life of the victim," said criminal defense attorney Mike Piccarreta.
He says the answer lies in the basis behind our justice system.
"He's presumed innocent, and traditionally in the United States, punishment follows the trial. Punishment isn't before the trial."
Piccaretta adds the higher bond amount- $500,000- is standard for such an arrest.
The defendant's history is taken into account later.
In this case, Granillo has a short record, with only one conviction: a misdemeanor DUI. There is also no documented evidence of past abuse.
Granillo's attorneys have called it an "isolated incident".
Logic that does little to comfort loved ones of Kimberly Tsonetokoy .
"Who's advocating for her?" she said. "She's gone. Brutally assaulted, brutally gone. Who's advocating for her?"
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.